hello. israel has carried out more aerial raids on lebanon on thursday, rejecting calls from the international community for a three—week cease—fire with hezbollah. the israeli army says it continues to fight hezbollah with full force, hitting 220 hezbollah targets in 2a hours. this is footage released by the israel defense forces, showing a strike in southern beirut that killed the head of hezbollah�*s drone unit. lebanon's health ministry said the latest israeli strikes killed at least 92 people, bringing the death toll from israeli raids this week to more than 600. this week marked the deadliest

period between the two sides since 2006. hezbollah began a campaign against israel on october 8 in support of hamas, and the two sides have exchanged fire since then. 0ur senior international correspondent, 0rla guerin, reports from lebanon on the children caught up in israel's bombardments. awarning — you may find elements of this report distressing. firefighters rushing to another air strike. this one in nabatieh. they carry out the wounded. not fighters, but children. israel says it's targeting hezbollah sites. but it's bombing many residential areas. "how old are you?" he asks. three fingers are raised. a young generation, now threatened by a war

that has already killed at least 50 children this week, like the members of this family, who died together in a strike in beirut. ali, jalal, fatima and farra — all gone. and iman and talia nasser — who took their last breaths together, also killed by israel's bombardment. but some have made it to safety, having run for their lives. my name is mehdi ahmad and my years old is ten years old. and what has been happening in the last two days? you had to leave your house? the war is very big, and very scared and i cry. how did you feel, having to leave your home? were you sad? "yes, i was very sad," he says.

"we left behind half our belongings. "a missile landed near us. "we went quickly so we wouldn't be hit." his biggest fear, he tells me, is losing his family. instead of going to school, many lebanese children, like mehdi, are now living in schools and colleges. this could be home for some time. international calls for a cease—fire came to nothing today. 0rla guerin, bbc news, sebline, lebanon. it's just it'sjust approaching it's just approaching dawn on friday morning in beirut. this is the latest scene from there. we're looking at pictures of the city. we can go to beirut

now. we can speak now to the washington post's beirut reporter, suzan haidamous, joining live from beirut. its approaching dawn there now suzan, tell us how the night has been? the situation has been very, very, very drastic and sad for everyone. when it started, people were unable to locate, to be relocated in places, because of the lack of organisation. there is no organising for those displaced. and the main reason for that is that hezbollah had lost its logistic team. they had a big team of logistics. those are people who are civilians. they usually organise all this. in 2006, people were organised to go to places and move out of the city. everything was in order. names were taken. places

were located. but today, during this strike, people were lost. theyjust this strike, people were lost. they just left, this strike, people were lost. theyjust left, and they didn't know where to go. many of them had been sleeping on the streets. many of them took them like 16 hours to reach an area from sidon to beirut, which takes one hour — it took them 16 hours to get there. the situation of the displaced is really bad. although some ngos and charities and aid groups have started to help them. but in fact, the government was only able to open or given an order only to open schools and public places for them. they are really in a bad situation — not finding places to stay in — and it's going to last a long time. it's not a war that's going to finish in two or three days, or even in 30 days, 33

days, or even in 30 days, 33 days, like in 2006.- days, or even in 30 days, 33 days, like in 2006. so, from what you're _ days, like in 2006. so, from what you're saying, - days, like in 2006. so, from what you're saying, is - days, like in 2006. so, from what you're saying, is the i what you're saying, is the sense there that this 21—day temporary ceasefire proposal that has been put forward — led by the us and france, but agreed by ten countries and the eu - that that agreed by ten countries and the eu — that that really is just not going to go anywhere? it doesn't look like that. it doesn't look like that. it doesn't look like it's going to be an everlasting ceasefire. it looks like it's a temporary thing. we're hoping that it will hold on. but in fact, no—one has big hopes for that. because it looks like it's only an announcement — it's not a deal that they have reach. you mentioned _ deal that they have reach. you mentioned the _ deal that they have reach. you mentioned the lack— deal that they have reach. you mentioned the lack of organisation from hezbollah there. 0bviously they have suffered casualties at the top tier of the organisation. it is a prescribed terrorist organisation in many countries, including the uk and us. but it is a key part of lebanese society, isn't it — a major

political party? what is the level of support like for hezbollah in lebanon at the moment?— hezbollah in lebanon at the moment? a ., , ., moment? actually, those who live in their _ moment? actually, those who live in their areas _ moment? actually, those who live in their areas and - moment? actually, those who live in their areas and are - live in their areas and are supporters, they don't have any other choice but to stay supporting them. they need them. but the general mood in lebanon is really divided. i mean, you have those who are saying, "why do i have to get involved in a war that's not ours? why do we have to support this when other arab countries are not doing anything? why do we have to involve lebanon, which is now a really weak country economically, and really suffering financially? why do we have to get into that war?" while those who are in hezbollah areas and supportive of hezbollah — they are still supporting hezbollah, although you could see in their eyes how sad they are. i visited some of these shelters, and i can see how the people are devastated. but they keep telling you that

hezbollah is our saviour, and the leader of the party is our leader. they keep saying this. but in fact, people are very sad. people are very devastated. you should see the children. i mean, italked to caritas, in charge of one of the shelters hosting 1,100 people. they told me that the children are the most sad among all, because they refuse to play, they refuse to eat, they refuse to live their lives, because they want to go back to their homes. find because they want to go back to their homes.— their homes. and for many peeple. — their homes. and for many people, conflict _ their homes. and for many people, conflict is - their homes. and for many people, conflict is in - their homes. and for many people, conflict is in theirl people, conflict is in their recent memory from 2006, from 1982. how are the people that you've been speaking with there — people in lebanon — dealing with now in terms of what they're hoping for the future? actually, i talked to hezbollah families. i've talked to them. to be honest with you, most of them are really comparing 2006 to now — it was much better in

2006, buzz we were able to hide, we were able to sit in places that are secure. and it took a short time. it was like 33 days that we were under bombing, but at least it was over. but now, we don't know when it's going to be over. we don't know what is the war — why is the war being waged? in 2006, there was an attack between both sides. but now, hezbollah had started what they called the support front, which is not our war. so, people are really comparing — they prefer that they go to war, similar to 2006, than being in this situation.— 2006, than being in this situation. 0k. thanks for “oininu situation. 0k. thanks for joining us _ situation. 0k. thanks for joining us on _ situation. ok. thanks for joining us on bbc- situation. 0k. thanks for joining us on bbc news. | situation. 0k. thanks for - joining us on bbc news. take care. here in washington, president volodymyr zelensky has met presidentjoe biden and vice—president kamala harris at the white house to outline his plan for a ukrainian victory against russia. ahead of the visit, president biden announced

around $8 billion worth of military assistance for ukraine. the package includes a new air defence system and long—range weapons. president biden did not appear to sign off on one of kyiv�*s key requests — to use us missiles to hit targets deeper inside russia. the two leaders spoke briefly after the meeting, emphasiisng the importance of their partnership. let me be clear — russia will not prevail in war. russia will not prevail in war. russia will not prevail. ukraine will prevail. and we'll continue to stand by you every step of the way. stand by you every step of the wa . ., , stand by you every step of the wa . ., ._ ., stand by you every step of the wa . ., ., ., way. today, we have a new sunport _ way. today, we have a new sunport package- _ way. today, we have a new support package. $7.9 - way. today, we have a new i support package. $7.9 billion. this_ support package. $7.9 billion. this will— support package. $7.9 billion. this will be a great help, and i this will be a great help, and i raised — this will be a great help, and i raised with president biden the plan _ i raised with president biden the plan of victory. today, we are preparing to discuss the details _ are preparing to discuss the details of the plan. meanwhile, donald trump has said that he will meet president zelensky on friday in new york. it comes after some confusion as to whether a meeting between the two would take place — after mr trump

reportedly rejected an earlier invitation. there was ire from some republican lawmakers on thursday after a visit by president zelensky earlier in the week to an arms factory in pennsylvania — where he was joined by multiple democratic lawmakers. speaker of the house mikejohnson said mr zelensky�*s visit was designed to help democrats — and that it amounted to election interference. he then demanded ukraine fire its ambassador to the us. separately, at an event in north carolina on wednesday, donald trump said he didn't understand why ukraine did not cede territory to russia. a short while ago, i spoke to congressman gabe amo — a democrat who sits on the house committee on foreign affairs and the subcommittee on europe — about both the war in ukraine, and the middle east. president zelensky, as i said, in washington today. he met the president, the vice—president. he met a bipartisan group of

your colleagues on capitol hill. can he count on us support at this point? well, look - first _ support at this point? well, look - first off, _ support at this point? well, look - first off, i _ support at this point? well, look - first off, i will- support at this point? well, look - first off, i will say - look — first off, i will say that i'm supportive of the aid package that president biden announced, over $8 billion. i'm also supportive of easing the restrictions on the use of long—range weapons to strike military targets in russia. and, of course, we need to be united behind ukraine. i, as a democrat, and most of my party — and many strong—willed republicans — stand for this fight in ukraine, which is a fight in ukraine, which is a fight for democracy, and against russia's illegal invasion. and so i believe that we will continue to count on that support and continue to make the case on why this is so important for our global stability. important for our global stability-— important for our global stabili . ~ , ., stability. we did see that delay earlier _ stability. we did see that delay earlier in _ stability. we did see that delay earlier in the - stability. we did see that delay earlier in the year, | delay earlier in the year, though, coming through congress for the approval of the spending — the logjam, essentially, between yourself

and the republican congresspeople. and if donald trump should be elected, he's made certain comments about ukraine that have been as perhaps that support not being there. . �* . , perhaps that support not being there. ., �*, , , .,~ , ., there. that's why the stakes of this upcoming _ there. that's why the stakes of this upcoming election - there. that's why the stakes of this upcoming election are - there. that's why the stakes of this upcoming election are so l this upcoming election are so high. i hesitate to get into electoral politics for this particular matter that is pressing, but it does have consequences, this november. i know that voters across this country will be making their voices heard as to their support. what you see in opinion polls — americans are supportive of this engagement and support of ukraine against vladimir putin and russia's illegal invasion. i vladimir putin and russia's illegal invasion.— illegal invasion. i also want to ick illegal invasion. i also want to pick on _ illegal invasion. i also want to pick on on _ illegal invasion. i also want to pick up on something i illegal invasion. i also want| to pick up on something you said a moment ago, which is that you are in support of lifting the restrictions on these attackms, the long—range weapons, which president zelensky asks every time he's in the country. president biden hasn't done that yet. why hasn't done that yet. why hasn't he, if you yourself are in favour?—

hasn't he, if you yourself are in favour? myself and many of my colleagues _ in favour? myself and many of my colleagues in _ in favour? myself and many of my colleagues in congress - in favour? myself and many of. my colleagues in congress have made the case why we believe this is necessary. we want ukraine to achieve victory. i think that the white house and the administration will continue to hear our appeals, as well as the appeal from president zelensky himself, and i think this is something that i think this is something that i believe we'll get to a solution on. unfortunately, right now... do solution on. unfortunately, right now. . ._ right now... do you have a sense that _ right now... do you have a sense that the _ right now... do you have a sense that the president l right now... do you have a i sense that the president may change his position on this? i'm not certain. but i do know that my voice, along with the voice of many other law—makers, are encouraging a change in that position, and time will tell. i5 that position, and time will tell. . . that position, and time will tell. , ., , ., tell. is it a case that the situation _ tell. is it a case that the situation is _ tell. is it a case that the situation is getting - tell. is it a case that the situation is getting to i tell. is it a case that the situation is getting to a | tell. is it a case that the - situation is getting to a point that it's an imperative for president biden to change that view? ~ , , view? well, my belief in the strate: view? well, my belief in the strategy that _ view? well, my belief in the strategy that the _ view? well, my belief in the strategy that the ukrainians | strategy that the ukrainians would be greatly benefited by this approach, and to complement the military package that the president put forward today, that $8 billion —

including the long—range missiles. if we are able to unlock that ability, we'd move ukraine closer towards victory. we're talking there about lifting restrictions. when it comes to another part of military aid the us is providing, this time to israel, there are calls from some quarters for restrictions to be put in place there, that it's time for the us to exert that level of influence over israel in terms of trying to reach a ceasefire deal with gaza, but now also with lebanon. what's your view of what should happen there? ., ., ~' ~' your view of what should happen there? ., ., ,, ,, ., there? look, i think we have these duelling _ there? look, i think we have these duelling situations - there? look, i think we havel these duelling situations right now date both in terms of hezbollah and israel. i am supportive of the ceasefire proposal that has been put forward. i am proposal that has been put forward. iam hopeful that israel and hezbollah can come to an agreement there for immediate action to reduce the impact on civilians. and similarly, i encourage an immediate ceasefire with the

situation between hamas and israel in gaza. we need an end — we need to have hostages returned. we need a humanitarian response that meets the moment. and so i'm hopeful that, as part of all of those discussions, we consider the human impact first and foremost — and that is what i'm hopeful we'll be able to achieve. hopeful we'll be able to achieve-— hopeful we'll be able to achieve. �* ., ~' hopeful we'll be able to achieve. �* ., ,, ., achieve. but do you think that conditions _ achieve. but do you think that conditions should _ achieve. but do you think that conditions should be - achieve. but do you think that conditions should be attached j conditions should be attached to the military aid that the us is providing?— is providing? well, i think those conditions - is providing? well, i think those conditions are - is providing? well, i think those conditions are part| is providing? well, i think. those conditions are part of the ongoing conversations between the united states and israel in both the military strategy and also achieving the humanitarian means. so i believe it is a component of what needs to be achieved as we move forward.— move forward. what is your view, move forward. what is your view. to — move forward. what is your view, to answer _ move forward. what is your view, to answer that? - move forward. what is your view, to answer that? i - move forward. what is your l view, to answer that? i firmly believe that _ view, to answer that? i firmly believe that we _ view, to answer that? i firmly believe that we have - view, to answer that? i firmly believe that we have to - view, to answer that? i firmly believe that we have to use i view, to answer that? i firmly i believe that we have to use our influence over israel to

achieve the least harmful set of responses to what is —— to the situation that exists with the situation that exists with the war. but i do believe that is part of an overall... but does using _ is part of an overall... but does using that _ is part of an overall... but does using that influence, as you put it, amount to conditioning the aid? i think it can be — conditioning the aid? i think it can be a _ conditioning the aid? i think it can be a part, _ conditioning the aid? i think it can be a part, a— conditioning the aid? i think. it can be a part, a component of that, certainly. right now, florida is feeling the impacts of the massive hurricane helene as it bears down on the big bend region. it's now a category 4 storm, with sustained winds of more than 200km/h or nearly 140mph and it's already causing major flooding in florida. this video was posted in the last hour

by the sheriff of lee county, showing deputies making their way through floodwaters on fort myers beach to help residents. while that area isn't expected to take a direct hit, it is still seeing a lot of problems from the outer bands of the dangerous storm. we can show you these pictures now of taylor county which is expected to take a direct hit from this storm when it makes landfall. officials have warned you can see you can see waves, you can see waves, water, and high winds in that area. officials have warned of a potentially catastrophic and unsurvivable storm surge when it makes landfall in the big bend area, south of the capital, tallahassee. florida's governor, ron desantis, said conditions were going to be too dangerous to navigate. you can see the governor, ron desantis, currently holding an emergency press conference there in florida, just giving there in florida, just giving the residents of that state an update. you can see on the maps behind him there the eye of the storm — quite a big storm

there, just approaching the big bend of florida. governor desantis flanked by various representatives of the authorities in florida. maybe we can have a listen to what governor desantis is saying...? ..still going to be dark outside. do not go out in the pitch—black trying to navigate any debris or anything. that's just not going to be the safe thing to do. as you can see, he's giving safety warnings, telling the residents of those affected areas not to go outside, that it's too dangerous to navigate the storm at this time. indeed, the storm at this time. indeed, the airports at tampa and tallahassee are already closed, and mass evacuation orders were in force for those areas. as it the governor said there, it's not safe to go outside at this time. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news: a labour plan to toughen up the abolition of non—domicile tax status is be reconsidered by the treasury.

ministers had hoped the £1 billion raised would go towards extra nhs appointments and school breakfast clubs. but officials now believe the policy may not raise that amount — or indeed any money at all. the model naomi campbell has been banned from being a charity trustee for five years after a watchdog found her charity, fashion for relief, was not passing on as much of the money raised as it was supposed to. instead it was being spent on hotel rooms, cigarettes and security for campbell, among other unauthorised payments. heavy rain and flash flooding has hit parts of england as the met office warns further downpours are expected on friday. drivers have been warned to take care travelling on flooded roads, particularly in parts of central of central and southern england, following days of heavy showers. the met office is warning some communities may also be cut off by the flooding. you're live with bbc news. the sudanese army has

launched a major offensive against their rivals, the paramilitary rapid support forces. this was the scene in khartoum thursday, the country has been embroiled in vicious civil war for nearly 18 months, when the rival military forces — who had been ruling jointly — fell out, over the path back to democracy. the un has said the conflict has created one of the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with 150,000 people killed and ten million displaced. the bbc�*s barbara plett usher has been given rare access by the army to the front line — and sent this report from the city of 0mdurman. woman cries. sudan is at breaking point. just outside the capital city is a crossing between the warring parties. these women have come

out of rsf territory. they carry bags to buy food and also tales of horror. i asked them why they didn't leave. we're too poor, they told me. we have nowhere else to go. almost a year and a half of civil war has destroyed parts of this city and other areas of the country. one of the fiercest battles took place here, in 0mdurman market. it was the largest market in sudan, but you can see the level of destruction now. 0ver several months of intense fighting, the army defeated the rsf in these streets, but the capital is still an active war zone, and diplomatic attempts to end the wider conflict so far have failed. we were escorted at all times by the military, who took us to the front line.

both sides are accused of war crimes, the rsf more so than the army. charges they deny. i spoke with the commander leading the latest operation. we're at a last line of defence for the sudanese armed forces in a part of southern 0mdurman. you can see the barrier here and beyond it, less than a kilometre away, is the rsf, and in between is a no man's land where there are snipers. and we'vejust heard sniper fire. there's also regular artillery fire, another danger here. but it's sexual violence that's become a defining characteristic of the conflict. one woman told us rsf fighters broke into her house, demanding to rape her two daughters. the youngest was ten years old. we've chosen not

to identify her, for her own safety. then one of the men raped her. it's late morning — time for the women we met to start the walk back home. for as long as this war goes on, they have no choice but to return to its horrors. barbara plett usher, bbc news, 0mdurman. new york city mayor eric adams became the first mayor in the city's history to face criminal charges while in office. prosecutors unsealed five counts of criminal offences on thursday morning, which include wire fraud, bribery, and receiving

foreign campaign contributions. they say a turkish diplomat facilitated many of the payments, after the mayor allegedly helped turkey open a consulate in a new york building that would have failed safety inspections. the democratic mayor is also accused of stealing more than $10 million of city funds during his 2021 mayoral campaign. mr adams denies all allegations. you can keep up to date with the progress of hurricane helene and all the day's news on our website. we've got a live web page there tracking the progress of that hurricane. and you'll find everything you need to know about all of the day's news there as well. i'm caitriona perry. thanks for watching. bye—bye. hello there. the month of september can often be quite a turbulent one. the transition from summer into autumn and the final full week of september has been just that. look at thursday's rain. a lot of heavy rain drifting out of northern england and northern ireland. this darker blue here, a line of torrential thundery showers with some hail

in there as well. already still with days to spare, woburn in bedfordshire has had its wettest september on record, but it's also had its wettest month ever on record, and we've got an amber weather warning which will remain in force for the next few hours. and so we are just going to continue to add to those rainfall totals. so a line of heavy rain will move its way south out of the midlands, down into southern england and south—east england. behind it, the wind direction swinging around to a northerly. a few scattered showers with elevation could turn a little wintry as well, as it turns colder from the north, so this weather front slowly eases away during the day this friday and then behind it, that colder air starts to tuck in. a real noticeable difference to the feel of our weather story. so yes, it will be a wet start across east anglia, south—east england. for a time that rain clearing perhaps away from the kent coast by lunchtime and then quite an improvement, actually. some sunshine coming through.

a few scattered showers, but a brisk northerly wind making it feel quite cool out there. eight to 1a degrees below par for this stage of the month. now, as we move out of friday into the weekend, we start with this ridge of high pressure. a quiet start to the weekend, but there's more wet weather to come as we move into sunday. but with that high pressure, well, that means we could have quite a chilly start first thing on saturday morning. temperatures and sheltered glens of scotland and northeast england down below freezing, so a frost is not out of the question here. we will continue to see the wind direction swinging around to more of a north westerly that will drive in showers on saturday across exposed west coast, and one or two running down through the cheshire gap as well. top temperatures on sunday at around 15 degrees, the best of the sunshine in sheltered southern and eastern areas. then, as we move out of saturday into sunday, here's that rain. top temperatures on sunday at around 15 degrees, the best of the sunshine in sheltered southern and eastern areas. then, as we move out of saturday into sunday, here's that rain. and it means an unsettled start into next week slowly improving.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. outside the confines of his own regime, few people

believe nicolas maduro won venezuela's presidential election two months ago. independent observers say the vote count was compromised. the opposition points to evidence that its candidate won by a wide margin. so, what now? well, the maduro government has ramped up repression. international diplomacy hasn't persuaded the president to step down. my guest is the de facto leader of the anti—maduro opposition, maria corina machado. maduro has long defied those predicting his demise — is now any different? maria corina machado in venezuela, welcome to hardtalk.